Ahmed Ataf: “Africa cannot turn the page on colonialism in its history except with the independence of Western Sahara” – Al-Hiwar Al-Jazaeryia

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Ahmed Ataf, confirmed today, Monday in Algiers, that the African continent cannot definitively turn the last page in the history of colonialism, except by empowering the Sahrawi people with their inalienable right to self-determination.

In a speech during the celebration of the International Day of Africa, which marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (currently the African Union), the minister said: “Today we celebrate our joint achievements in the areas of spreading peace and security and promoting economic integration in the context of activating the African continental free trade area that constitutes The topic of the current session of the African Union.

Here we should not forget that our brothers and sisters in the last African colony, in Western Sahara in particular, are waiting for our support and backing to exercise their inalienable or imprescriptible right to self-determination”, after which – he adds – “Africa can finally turn the last page of history The abhorrent colonialism, the disgraceful occupation, and the shameful plundering of its wealth.”

The minister pointed out that “the Saharawi people who yearn for liberation and emancipation, like other African peoples who preceded them in achieving their freedom and independence, seek help from us and we have no right to ignore them. Injustice, oppression, and domination over it, and we have no right to lag behind.”

On the other hand, Mr. Ataf mentioned in his speech the situation in Sudan, calling for the need not to overlook the suffering of the Sudanese as a result of the “raging” crisis in this country for more than a month, which “caused the loss of hundreds of innocent lives, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of defenseless civilians , In addition to the signs of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe and the danger of another division of Sudan looming on the dark horizon.

In light of this bleak scene, Mr. Ataf says, “Algeria calls for redoubling efforts and coordinating endeavors between all international and regional actors in order to extricate brotherly Sudan from the cycle of violence, division and fighting that has afflicted it and afflicted it with the evil of calamity.”

It is noteworthy that since the signing on May 25, 1963 of the founding charter of the Organization of African Unity in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, which turned into the African Union in 2002, the celebration of “International Africa Day” has become an annual tradition on the continent and around the world, and an opportunity to highlight the various achievements of its countries.

The 55 current members of the African Union celebrated “Africa Day” this year under the slogan “Africa, our future”, in recognition of the vision and the step taken towards “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, led by its citizens and representing a dynamic force on the global stage.”